Grate-supporting structure



Aug. 7, 1945.

c. A. SLEICHER GRATE-SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Fi led March 5, 1945- 2' sheets-sheet 1 Aug. 7,1945. r c. A. SLEICHER 2 ,381,781 1 GRATE-VSUPPORTING STRUCTURE I Filed March 5, 1943 2 Shee'ts-v-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 7, 1945 lTiEiD PATENT F F SICE i 2,381,731 r v a GRATE SUPP0RTING STRUCTURE "GhHllES-AiiSlBiGhBl, Providence; .R. 51., assignor to New EnglandiButt company ProvidencaeR. .L, wt-corporation of Rhode Island Application March 5, 1943, Serial nuanssor l-Claim! (01. 126-176) The present invention relates 'to .a structure for mounting 'grate-bars above 'the ash-pit of .a boiler, furnace, or the 'like'and more :particularly to a supporting frame "for the grate which is *adjustableto conform'topractically any size and shape of ash-pit.

In 'most coal-burning "boiler and furnace in- =stallations the grate-bars aremounted in bearingbrackets built into the side walls of the ash-pit.

In manyinstances, such coal-burners have been converted to burn fuel-dilby removingithe grate- 1 direct'contact by the oilflame. 'Insuchlcases, even though the original gratesbars aresaved, *th'ey cannothereplaced .in the fire-box. When boilers or "furnaces are originally installed for "burning fuel-"oil noprovisi'on is made "forsupportingagirate fcr thefire-box. Due to thflpl'fiSBIlt shortage of fuel-oil it is "desirable to convert many of uchoil burning'bciler and furnaces to burn coal and thepresent invention provides a "convenient and relatively inexpensive means for (this "purpose;

* 'One of theobjects-of the present invention is to provide a structure for supporting the 'gratebars of furnaces and boilers which is independent of the apparatus originally installed and adjustagirts extending between the rails'and adjustable longitudinally*toadapt the frame {crash-pits of different widths.

Another object is to provide a' frame ofthe'type indicated-which is of simple and, compact construction "and composed of unmachined castings to adapt it for economical manufacture.

Further objects-of the invention are set forth "in the following specification which describes a preferred form of grate-supporting structure, by way-cfexample'as illustratedby the accompanying drawings. In th -drawings:

Fig. 'ly'is a plan view of "a grate-supporting 'structure'inccrporating thenovel features of the present invention-and showing the longitudinally adjustable spacerbars or girts for maintaining the side rails'in' spaced relationship "abutting the side walls of the .a sh-pit;

Fig.2 is an'elevational side view of the gratesupportinfg'structure sh'owin'g'the composite con- -struction of 'the'side rails'and the means for ad- 'justing'the'rails on'their supporting legs to positi'on-the grate-bars'atthe proper level in the firebox; v

FigfB is 'a transverse sectional view on line 3-3 "of Fig. '2 showing the ends of a grate-bar pivotalllyrnountedin'theside rails of the supporting structure; v

Fig/4 is'anenlarged'sectional view on line 4-4 ofFig; 2-sh0wingthe bolts for connecting the legs to thiebrac'zkets'depending from the rail-sections "and *the tongue-and-groove construction of the legsand bracketsforholding the legs against pivvotalmovem'ent;

ble for use in ash-pits of substantiallyall sizes and shapes. I nno'ther'object is toprovid'e a structure of the indicated having rails extending longitu- 'dinally at r opposite sides of "the ashapit and provided with "bearings arranged in equidistaritly spaced relationship therealong for 'pivotally mounting the ends of the grate-bars.

type indicated in which the rails are adjustable vertically cnsupporting legs toposition the gratelbarsat the proper level in the bottom of the 'firebox.

Another object is'to provide a structure of the .type indicated having sectional spacer-bars or Fig. 5 is'anenlarged "transverse sectional view -'-'on1line*55 ofFig'. I1 showing"the manner in --which the overlapping complementary portions receivingthe heads and "nuts of the connecting belts;

' Fig. 6 is an enlarged vtransverse sectional view on lineB-tbf Fig. '1 showing the interlocking ke y 'and 'slot"connection between the end of the girt'andfth "bearing-cap for'preventing rotation of thetgirt; and

"Figj'l is a perspective viewshowing the ends of two adjacent rail-sections with th parts in disassembled relationship. 1

' Referring to the drawings, the grate-supp ortingstructure 'orgframe of the present invention isadaptedior use with practically all types of furnaces andboilershaving the usual front plate 2 with a fire-door and ash-pit 'door 4. The

in equidistantly spaced relationship along its v length, and depending leg-brackets 9, usually three in number, ofiset inwardly from. one side of the rail as shown most clearly in Fig. 3. The depending leg-brackets 9 are of channel-shape in cross-section with spaced flanges l and projecting at one side and bolt-holes |2 posi tioned midway between the flanges.

Each section 1 has an extension or ear l5 at one end projecting longitudinally beyond its body portion and offset laterally thereof with a flat face on one side and a channel or slot IS on its opposite side, see Fig. '7. The ear l5v is of a length coresponding to the distance between the centers of two adjacent bearing recesses 8 and is provided with an arcuate recess |3 at its inner end which forms a continuation of a similar arcuate recess in the end of the body-portion of therail to provide a semicircular bearing at the point of joinder of the sections. The ear I5 also has an arcuate recess M at its outer end for cooperation with the recess l3 at the end of the body portion of another section to which it may be connected, whereby to form the next adjacent bearing recess at thejoinder of the sections. Each section I has anear projecting longitudinally from its opposite end and offset inwardly from the side of the body portion. The ear I! also is provided with arcuate recesses at its outer and inner ends adapted to aline respectively with the arcuate recess l3 at the inner end and the recess M at the outer end of the ear I 5 on the next adjacent section connected thereto; thereby providing properly spaced semicircular bearing recesses in the connected portions of the rail-sections as shown inFig. 2. The ears l5 and I! on adjacent rail-sections I are thus complementary to adapt them to overlap in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1, being provided with alined holes 18 and I9 through which bolts 20 are inserted .to connect adjacent sections. The bolt-heads 2| are located in the channeled slot l6 on the sidev of the ear |5 to hold them from turning and thenuts 22 on the threaded ends of the bolts are setup against the fiat side of the ear underlying the side of the rail to permit the latter to closely abut the side of the ash-pit.

Each composite rail 5 or 6 may be made up of the proper number ofconnected sections 1 to give an additive length corresponding t th length of the ash-pit and fire-box. The ear |5 at the end of the rearmost rail-section I may be cut off and any p rtion of the foremost section which would project beyond the front of the ash-pit also may be cutawayso that the composite rail will fit closely between the forward and rearward ends of the ash-pit. The composite rails 5 and 6 will then have the same length and be positioned at opposite sides of the ash-pit with the corresponding bearing recesses 8 of the opposite rails in alinement.

Each rail 5 or 6 is supported by a series of vertical legs 23 which are attached to the depending leg-brackets 9 on the rail-sections in the manner as next explained. The legs 23 have feet 24 .at their lower ends adapted to rest on the floor 25 of the ash-pit which may be of concrete, masonry or the like. The legs 23 are of rectangular shape in cross-section, of the proper width to adapt them to fit closely between the flanges Ill and II on the depending leg-brackets 9 and of a thickness corresponding to the offset of the leg-brackets from the outer side of the rails to adapt them to aline therewith, see Fig. 3. As illustrated in Figs. 2 and '7, each leg 23 has a. central slot 26 with a recess 21 at the side thereof extending throughout a considerable portion of its length. The legs 23 are attached to the depending leg-brackets 9 by means of bolts 28 extending through the slots 26 in the legs and the holes I2 in the depending leg-brackets 9, the heads of the bolts being positioned in the recesses 21 to hold the bolts against turning movement while enclosing the heads wholly within the confines of the legs. By loosening the nuts 29 on the bolts 28 the rails 5 and 6 may be adjusted vertically on the legs 23 to level the rails at the proper height for supporting the grate-bars at the bottom of the fire-box.

The rails 5 and 6 are adapted to abut closely against the side walls of the ash-pit, see Figs. 1 and 3, being held in their spaced relationship by means of adjustable spacer-bars or girts 3| and 32 at the front and rear. The girts 3| and 32 are of generally rectangular shape in crosssection with reduced cylindrical projections 33 at their ends for mounting them in alined bearing recesses 8 at the ends of the opposite rails 5 and 6. Theshoulders 34 surroundin the projections 33 at the ends of the girts 3| and 32 engage against the inside faces of the rails 5 and 6 as shown in Fig. 1 to hold the latter in their spaced relationship and the projections have rectangular lugs 35 which cooperate with correspondingly-shaped slots 36 in recessed bearing-caps 49, later to be described, to hold the spacer-bars from turning, see Figs. 2 and 6.

The girts 3| and 32- are preferably so constructed as to adapt them for longitudinal expansion or contraction to locate the rails 5 and 6 in their proper spaced .relationship in ash-pits of different widths. 5, the girts 3| and 32 are of composite construction, each comprising a pair of complementary members 31 of identical form. Each member 31 has a rectangular body portion with its end opposite the end having the cylindricalprojection 33 recessed on one side throughout a considerable distance to provide a longitudinal extension 33 of reduced width. The extension 38 of each member 31 is provided with a slot 39 reaching throughout a considerable portion of its length and the side of the extension flush with the body portion of the member is provided-with a slotted recess 40 surrounding the slot. A pair of the members 31 may be placed in reversed relationship so that their extensions 38 overlap, that is with the extension of each member positioned in the recessed portion of the opposite member. The pair of reversed members 31 may then be connected by means of bolts 4| projecting through the slots 39 in the overlapping extension 38, the heads 42 of the bolts and the nuts 43 on their ends being located in the recesses 40 surrounding the slots. The recess 40 at one side prevents the bolts 4| from turning and their heads 42 and nuts 43 are contained wholly within the confines of the composite girts 3| and 32 to As illustrated in Figs. 1 and i thereof.

avoidxprojections-along thewsides thereof. By loosening the.nuts';43 on thez-bolts 4| the members 31 maybe slid-relatively .of eachother to. :lengthen r shortenthe girts to.;adjust the rails illustratedeach grate-bar 46 comprisesa central rod-like portion with closely adjacentparallel lugs 41 projecting laterally from. either side At their endsthe grate-bars 46 have cylindricalbearing trunnions 48 for seating in the alined bearing recesses 8- 'in the opposite I rails and 6 to mount them for rocking motion. As shown in Fig. 1 ofthe present drawingseach grate-bar 46- isof awidth slightly less than twice the distance between the: centers of-two adjacent gbearing recesses 8, thereby permitting anarrangement of the grate-bars in-alternate bear ing recesses to utilize the maximum grate surface in the fire-box for difierent conditions. In other instances, where interlocking grate-bars areto be used, their trunnions maybe seated in the whole number of the bearing recesses;

A cap. 49 is provided :for each rail-section I for seating-on: the top thereof, each cap having bearing recesses 50 therein for cooperating'with the bearing recesses B-in its related rail-section.

The trunnions-48 at the ends of the grate-bars referred to, for receivingthe lugs at the ends of the girts 3| and 32; The bearing-caps were held in position on the rail-sections 1 by means of bolts5| extending therethrough and fastened by nuts on the under side of the rails;

The grate-bars 46 maybe provided withlaterally spaced pairs of depending arms 52, 53 and 56, 51 for connection with brief or the other of a pair of shaker-bars 58 and 59. Preferably, the shaker-bar 58"is' positioned between and connected to the depending arms 52 and 53' of alternate grate bars 46byj means of bolts or pins 60. As herein shown, the second shaker-bar, 59 is positioned between and connected to thearms 56 and 5T'of the"remaining' grate-bars 46 by means of pins 66. The rate-bar's 46 are'usu'all'y cast with both "pairs'of depending arms 52, 53 and 56, 51 at one end and such arms as are not used may be cut off to provide the whole set of bars with alternating arms. For exceptionally long fire-boxes a second set of grate-bars 46 may be provided arranged in reversed end-forend relation to the first set to position the depending arms 52, 53 and 56, 51 at the opposite side of the ash-pitfor connection to a second pair of shaker-bars 6| and 62 which may be attached respectively to the arms 52, 53 and 56, 51 of alternate grate-bars, see Figs. 1 and 3. The shaker-bars 58, 59 and 6|, 62 extend forwardly through the front plate 2 of the furnace and are connected to the lower end of levers 63 pivoted intermediate their ends in bearingbrackets 64 on the front plate 2. A lever 63 is provided for each shaker-bar and is usually adapted to receive a handle for oscillating it to reciprocate the bar to rockthegrate-bars connectedhtheretoo. One preferred form of construction incorporating the novel features of the present invention having been described in detail, the manner of-assembling the parts in the ash-pit of a furnace or boiler and the method of operation ,of the assembly is as next explained.

, When-installing the grate-bar'supporting structure the length of the ash-pit is measured and the required number of rail-sections lare connected at their 'enclsto give an additive length corresponding thereto. The ear |5 on the rearmost rail-section "I usually is removed and the complementary ears I5 and I! on adjacent rails arebrought into overlapping relationshipto aline their-bolt-holes l8 and IS. The sections -1 of the rails 5 and 6 may be assembled outside of the ash-pit butpreferably, due to their weight, they are assembled within the pit. The adjacent sections .1 are connected by inserting the bolts 20 throughthe alined holes l8 and I9 in the ears l5 and I! and screwing the nuts 22 onto the threads of the bolts to set them up against the side of the .ear IT. The heads 2| of the bolts 20 are positioned in the channeled'slot l6 and the nut 22 on the ends of the bolts, when setup against the side of the. ear M, will be positioned wholly within the confinesof the. rails so asnot to project laterally therefrom. Ifthe rails 5 and 6'have the minimum number of rail-sections I necessary to extend. throughout .the' length of the ash-pit and are found to project somewhat therefrom at the front; the'excess length of the foremost sections may be out off as indicated in Fig. 2. In other instances, it may befound advantageous to remove the excess length from the rearmcst sections 1. In this manner two composite rails 5 and 6 may be built up of connected sections 1 to aline their-corresponding bearing recesses 8 on opposite sides iof' the ash-pit.

. 1 The rail-sections I are preferably mounted on the legs 23 as they are assembled in the ash-pit. Forthis purpose each leg 23 is positioned be tween the flanges N and II on the outer side'of aleg-bracket 9 andthe bolts 28 inserted through the slot in the leg and the holes l2 in the bracket. .The nuts are screwed onto the threaded ends of .the bolts-and set up against the inner side of the leg-bracket as shown in Fig; 3. It will be. observed from this view that the heads of the bolts 28then will be positioned wholly within the recess2l ineach leg 23 so that the outer side of the leg will'be flush with the outer side of the raile-section' I topermit the rails 5 or 6 to abut closely against the side walls of the ash-pit. In attaching the legs 2'3to the "brackets 9 the railsections I are raised sufficiently to position the grate-bars 46 to be mounted thereon at the proper height in the fire-box before the nuts 29 are tightened on the bolts 28, the slots 26 in the legs permitting such vertical adjustment of the rail-sections to bring them into alinement and level them notwithstanding any irregularities on the floor of the ash-pit.

After all the rail-sections 1 have been assembled and mounted on the legs 23 the girts 3| and 32 may be connected to the opposite rails 5 and 6 by seating the terminal projections 33 on the girts in the alined bearing recesses 8 at the forward and rearward ends of the rails. The girts 3| and 32 may be adjusted in length to adapt them to extend across the ash-pit by loosening the nuts 43 on the bolts 4| and sliding their extensions 31 relatively to each other until the shoulders 34 at their ends engage against the inner sides of the rails 5-and 6. After-the girts 3| and 32 have been properly adjusted the nuts. 43 on the-bolts -4l are tightened to rigidly connect the two sections 31 of each girt and braceithe rails Band 6 against the Sides of the ash-pit.

After-the supporting structure has been. assembled in the manner explained above, the gratebars 48 may bemounted in theirealinedlbearing sses 8 on the rails 5 and 6- by seating their trunnions 48 therein as shown in Figs. 1 and'2; the entire area between the rails being filled with the grate-bars. As the bearing recesses 81in the rails 5 and 6 are spacedapart a distance equal to half the width of a grate-bar 46, the first or end rat -bar can be mounted in the pair. of alined bearing recesses nearest the end of the ash-pit since the railsmay be made to extend the entire length of the fire-box within the limits of one-half the width of a grate-bar. After all the grate-bars 46 have. been mounted on the-rails i and 6 the caps 49 are fastened in place onthe rail-sections 1 with their recesses cooperating with the bearing recesses 8 to adapt: them to en close the trunnions 48L The caps are attached a -s c ionsi and 6 by means ofthe bolts as P ev ou ly exp inedv Inmoun ins the grate-bars All vonthe rails=5 and 6 ertain of them are preferably reversedendwise in relation to the others to position their depending arms 62,53 and 56, 51 adjacent'the opposite rails 5 and 5 In the embodimentot the invention illustrated in the present drawings, the forward set of grate-bars. have the arms 52, 53 and 56, 51 dependingat the ieftahand side of the ash-pit adjacent the rail 5, see Fig. 3; while the rearward set of grate-barswill have their depending arms adjacent the right-hand side of the ash-pit adjacent the rail 6. The depending arms 52, 53 or 56, 51 on alternate grate-bars may be removed so that the armsflof adjacent grate-bars will be arran ed instaggeredrelationship. The depending arms 52, -53 of the first, third, fifth, etc. grate-bars 46 of the forward set are connected 0 the shaker-bar 58 by! means of the pins 60 while the alternate gratebars 46, the second. fourth, sixth. etc. are connected to the shaker-bar 58. The first, third, fifth, etc. seriesqof grate-bars 46 of the rearward set are connected to the shakerbar 5| while the alternate grate-barsof this set are connected to the shaker bar 6.2. With such a construction and arrangement of the grate-bars .45 the operator may shake the forward set 01' grateebars by oscillating the leYers 83; to reciproe cate the shaker-bars 58 and 591.11 opposite directions while the rearward set of grate-bars maybe shaken by operating the levers .83 for the shakerbars 5 i and 52. During such rocking of the gratebars they will rotate inthe'bearing recesses 8 insthe rails} and 6 while being preventedirom risingi'ro'm the rails by -the caps U. which overlie their trunnions 48. i

-tions,:composi te rails having an additive length .equal to.;the. length of the ash-,pitvmay be assembled. and by adjusting the rails'on their supporthis less thegrateebarslmay be located at the proper; height inthe fire-box, By adjusting the snacerebars ,oreirts connectingthe side rails, the latter may be held in-their proper spaced relationship and braced against the walls of the ashpi-t whatever itswidth within reasonable limits.

While one. preferred form of the grate-supporting structure is illustrated and described herein, i is-to be understood that modifications maybe made in the construction and arrangementof ts rts Without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limfli g myselfv in this respect; I claim:

In a grateebar sup orting structure adjustable in length and width-to'conform to the varying dimensions of diiierent sizes of boilers-and iurpaces, the wmbination of a plurality of relatively short rail-sections formed withbearing sockets for the ends of a series of grateebars oitset fla ges at the opposite ends of said railasections provided with holesfor receiving bolts for fastelling sai WUOBB tozether in alinement; said flanges also formed'with mating recesses adapted o alin when the dances are boltedtogether to form sockets for regeivinz theends of certain of the grate-herein the series-andzto cooperate with the sockets in the main lengths of the sections whereby to spa e: the grat bars equidisttantly alongthe full l nsth of-a plurality of said sections connected to ether in alinement an.

ju t si ts compr s ng te escopic members adapted to be fastened together to provide.dif-.-

- ferent overa lengths and ha ing means for fas- 

